Is the Universe really infinite?

Question

Will the Universe keep expanding infinitely? If it does have a stopping point will everything pile up?

Answer 1

It depends on your definition of "infinite". By Euclidean standards, two lines which are parallel remain parallel no matter how far down the line from a given point of origin you go. This assumes a "flat" plane as the basis of measurement. In some non-Euclidean geometries, the planes are curved, and parallel lines will eventually meet. There are also those who believe that the universe is infinite but closed. You can travel as far as you want in any direction, but eventually you would end up where you started, even though you traveled in a straight line from where you started.

On the other hand, since the universe is defined by the presence of something (a galaxy, a photon, a neutrino, ANYthing), if you travel out far enough, and assume a flat Euclidean universe, there would be a place where there are no "things", where there is nothing (of course by being there and observing it, you would be creating something, but nevermind). At that edge, which scientists believe is always expanding, the place where there is no-thing couldn't be called part of the universe. If you could bound the edge of things all the way around, you could say that the universe is not infinite.
As far as the big crunch (opposite of the big bang), that is only a theory. It is equally likely that things will just keep expanding forever.

Answer 2

I understand according to Hubble's Law

The dominant motion in the universe is the smooth expansion known as Hubble's Law.

Recessional Velocity = Hubble's constant times distance

V = Ho D

where

V is the observed velocity of the galaxy away from us, usually in km/sec

H is Hubble's "constant", in km/sec/Mpc

D is the distance to the galaxy in Mpc

The universe is expanding.

It has been proposed that the universe will expand and suddenly collapse or snap back at some point. Much like an atomic bomb.

Answer 3

Within the realms of our understanding or technology it might as well be infinite. Do you realize that it is not even possible at this point for us to travel beyond our galaxy . when you think in terms of light years and the time it would even take to get to the nearest star, iit seems impossible. So thats why i say what i say.

But who knows maybe im wrong..lol

Answer 4

The universe looks as if it will keep expanding indefinitly, but no one knows for sure.

Observations of the furthest thing you can see the Cosmological Microwave background and of Supernovae in our neighbourhood do seem to agree with this.

Answer 5

The universe that is detectable to our instruments is finite. It's pretty big (about 13 billion light years across), but it's not infinite.

Answer 6

It's not somthing we nned to worry about. If it at one time does stop and everything starts to pile up, it wont happen during our life time so you shouldn't worry about it to much. Some people go mad trying to figure out the answer so I just go on with life and enjoy having everything the way it is.

Answer 7

iam basically a science believer, so in my point of view, the universe is actually infinite. it doesn't have an end as long as we have a proof of something weird out there in the space/

Answer 8

Upto present invention the universe is infinite.

Answer 9

Continuous star births. Enormous amounts of light, electric and atomic energy being emerced all over the place.

It will never run out. So I guess you can say it can be infinite.

I suggest you search for pictures of nebulas and constellations and see how beautiful they are.

Answer 10

God is there to worry!!! he certainly won;t let it go out of control!!!
It is none of your and my business!!! becoz it we make it our business then we certainly would suffer LOSS!!!!!